Prostate brachytherapy in cooperative group clinical trials: What is the best path forward in the radiosurgery era?

Abstract

A significant criticism of prostate brachytherapy has always been the relative lack of prospective, randomized trials investigating its optimal utilization. This is becoming more apparent in the context of progressive, external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) treatment techniques such as hypofractionation and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) which have undergone and continue to undergo vigorous clinical investigation (1–3). Multiple prospective studies, including large-scale, cooperative group clinical trials, continue to accrue and lead to refinement and greater acceptance of SBRT for prostate cancer.